Author Archive

December 5, 2013

‘Pinball wizards and novices in New York City have hit the jackpot. Modern Pinball NYC, an interactive pinball showroom, recently opened its doors in Manhattan, giving pinball fanatics a chance to practice their bump, tilt, and backhand shot.’

‘With the devoted assistance of pinball enthusiasts Francesco LaRocca, Al Cihak and Eddie Cramer, among others, support for Modern Pinball NYC is growing. LaRocca is an experienced pinball tournament organizer; Cihak is a collector who has become one of the biggest pinball machine operators in the Big Apple; and Cramer is an expert at restoring games.’

‘Pinball-machine maintenance requires unfailing replacement of the rubber bands that protect flippers, bumpers and vital “plastics” such as clown heads and spaceships. “If a ball gets nicked, it’s like sandpaper,” Mr. Cihak said, “It wrecks everything.” He added: “If one of my pinballs gets busted, I’m out there right away.”‘

June 23, 2010

‘At first glance, it looks as if Eddie Cramer is operating a casino out of his modest one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights, or at least one as Ziggy Stardust might have imagined it. ‘

‘Mr. Cramer is one of the country’s foremost collectors of pachislos, cheap, slightly tacky slot machines that have amassed a cultlike following in the United States over the last 10 years. He began collecting them about four years ago after he saw one in a mall on Staten Island. Today, he lives mostly at his girlfriend’s apartment so he can use his own to house his collection.’